SHEBREW.

✡

[wildechaya]

dutycovet​

he’s not sure whether to be annoyed or amused by her pert comments. clearly she thinks she is funny, but elijah would rather not have to deal with these comments in a classroom setting, with her by his side instead of in a desk. he settles with amused, and levels such a look at her, with just a tinge of condescension, knowing it will only rile her further. after all, why not? he has to pay her back a little for that comment, and he is the superior in this setting. a little condescension isn’t too out of place, especially when it is in jest, though she knows it not.

after a few seconds of that amused, silent look, he shuffles his papers off to the side, and instead pulls a folder out of one of his top drawers. “ if you’re quite finished with that. ” eyebrows lift, the smile on his lips impossibly faint now. “ i thought i might offer you a place in my classroom for the coming term, ”  he slides the folder over to her, “ as my teaching assistant. ” within the folder are the boring details: schedule, compensation, duties, etc. however, he is not watching the folder, but her expression, trying to find a hint of which direction she could be leaning. if there is one thing she is not, it is predictable, especially around elijah. 

“ that is, if it wouldn’t interfere with your wild studying. ” the smile grows, only a little, imperceptible to one who does not know him well, but there nonetheless. what can he say: that sharp tongue and sharper wit have engaged him in her success since day one.

a  stunned  silence  blankets  the  office .    through  his  window ,  sounds  of  chatter  rise  up  from  the  quad .  gussie  leans  forward ,  fingers  playing  with  the  edge  of  the  folder --  might  as  well  check  the  pay .   given  her  current  lack  of  income ,  it’s  certainly  an  improvement ,   but  there’s  some  absent  piece  in  this .  he  has  her  thoroughly  confused ,  and  it  grates .   she  watches  him  for  a  beat ,   curious .      ❝  you  want  me  to  be  your  TA ? ❞      she  blinks --  once ,  twice --      ❝  why ?    i  mean ,  i  was  disrespectful  as  your  student . . .   insufferable. . .   ❞      she  knows  this  because  it  was ,  largely ,   intentional .    an  irrepressible  part  of  her  nature  in  response  to  that  elite ,  coiffed  condescension .

gussie  would  be  lying     if  she  said  she  wasn’t  tempted --  the  pay ,  of  course ,  but  the  material ,  too ;  pages  of  ancient  conflicts  paving  the  way  to  here ,  to  now . . .   to  the  world  she  is  so  very  fixated  on  changing .   and  the  impending  semester  promises  to  be  a  dull  one ,  filled  with  required  economics  courses ,  exhausting  gen  eds .   gussie  needs  this ,  needs  a  spark  in  her  mind  or  she’ll  utterly  lose  it .   she’d  thrived  in  mikaelson’s  classroom ,  already  predisposed  to  argument ,  to  the  subject  matter .  but  another  four  months  with  him ?     perhaps  she  had  enjoyed  each  riff ,   each  moment  she’d  gotten  under  his  skin ,  perhaps  too  much ;   but  to  be   contractually  obligated  to  listen  and  follow  his  orders ?   long  hours  and  late  nights  of  doing  his  work  for  him ?   

[wildechaya]

dutycovet‌

@wildechaya​.     /     that teacher/TA au.

this is a bad idea, and he knows it. she was disruptive enough as his student, and asking her to join him in teaching can only create further friction. however, he has never found a student with a sharper grasp of his subject. her arguments, while disruptive, were always poignant and informed. though he wishes her grasp on civility were firmer, there would be no one better to show his students how to question everything, how to arrive at their own conclusions.

      “ thank you for coming, miss cohen. ” he doesn’t look up from the exam he’s grading as she walks in, keeping that superior tilt of his head as he looks down, knowing how it annoys her. “ have a seat. ” he gestures with his pen to the chair on the other side of his desk. 

for another moment, he ignores her, finishing the page he is on, leaving her to examine his office: meticulously neat but filled to the brim with everything he’s collected over the course of his academic career: ancient books filling every space on the many bookshelves, various prizes and certificates, knickknacks gifted from appreciative students, a photo of his family on one of the rare occasions they were happy.

marking his place, he sets aside the exam and finally looks up to gussie. “ what are your plans for this coming semester? ”

she  prickles  at  the  threshold ,       eyes  catching  on  the  office  interior  --   so  this  is  how  the  other  half  lives .  nearly  four  full  months  of  his  lectures  and  gussie  had  never  stopped  by  his  hours --  why  bother ?     she  waits  a  beat ,  there  in  the  doorway ,   before  hooking  her  ankle  around  the  leg  of  a  chair  and  kicking  it  out ,   taking  a  seat .   leaning  back ,  gussie  slouches  with  her  legs  stretched  out ,  ill  posture  deliberate .   

professor  mikaelson  seems  at  ease ,   content  to  take  his  time  .  and  with  each  passing  minute ,  heralded  by  the  quiet ,  insistent  ticking  of  the  wall  clock ,   her  irritation  grows .   in  the  earliest  weeks  of  his  company  gussie  might  have  written  off  his  behavior --  she’s  been  prone  to  paranoid  misinterpretation  before --  but  here  and  now  she’s  quite  confident  he’s  doing  this  to  drive  at  that  short ,   hot  temper  of  hers .   she’s  on  the  verge  of  interrupting  his  work  to  get  this  meeting  over  with ,  when  he  finally  sets  down  the  pen  and  shifts  his  gaze  to  her .    

confounded  by  his  interest ,     gussie  shrugs  and  levels  him  with  a  wholly  ambivalent  look .     ❝   well ,  professor ,  i’d  planned  on  taking  some  classes .  might  even  go  wild  and  study  a  little .  who  knows .   why ?   ❞

[wildechaya]

dutycovet‌

she’s cute, really,  to think that something like that could offend him. polished and well dressed he may be, but he has seen far worse things than anything he believes augusta cohen could manage. still, he’s amused by her attempt to disarm him with her words. a wiggle of his wand, and the wreaths scattered at his feet form up into piles. “ it takes much more to put me off, ” he tells her, not a trace of a grin on his face. he comes closer, laying down his wand and checklist on the table so that he can pick up the bowl she’s filching out of. “ does that mean you’re mine to command for the day? ”

❝   in  your  dreams .   ❞           her  traitorous  mind  flicks  back  to  samantha ,    to  conversations  under  the  cover  of  darkness  in  the  common  room .  gussie  forcefully  shoves  a  piece  of  popcorn  onto  the  thin  wire ,  pricking  her  finger  in  the  process --     never  mind  his  dreams .      ❝  i’m  not  your  lackey .   filch  just  said  i’m  supposed  to  put  up  these  stupid  christmas  decorations  by  hand .     ❞      she  eyes  the  piles  of  boughs  and  ornaments  resentfully .      ❝   i  tried  to  tell  mcgonagall  this  is  antisemitism  but  for  some  reason ,  she  didn’t  buy  it .   so ,  ❞        she  smiles  at  him ,  sweetly ,      ❝  you  get  to  enjoy  my  company  for  however  long  this  takes .  ❞

[wildechaya]

dutycovet‌

if there is one place where elijah far outstrips any of his siblings, it is in the process of organization. naturally, as the head boy this would fall to him, but he looks on the task with certain pleasure. that is, until he sees his happy helper. “ ah, miss cohen, and here i thought we wouldn’t be able to find someone to play the grinch so last minute. ” he pauses to relish that little jibe before continuing. “ may i ask what heinous crime sentenced you to serve on my team for the holidays? ”

he  thinks  he’s  so  fucking  clever .    gussie  snorts ,   and  nudges  the  pile  of  decorations  with  her  boot .     ❝    none  of  your  business .    besides ,  ❞    she  angles  a  smug ,  retaliatory  grin  his  way .      ❝   i  wouldn’t  want  to  offend  your  delicate  sensibilities ,  mikaelson .  ❞    there’s  a  spool  of  wire  on  the  ground ,   laid  out  next  to  a  bowl  of  popcorn  and  cranberries ,   and  she  settles  down ,  figures  they’re  meant  to  string  them  into  garlands .  gussie  grabs  a  berry  and  pops  it  in  her  mouth  anyway .   filch  won’t  notice  it’s  missing ,   but  it’s  the  principle  of  the  thing .

[wildechaya]

❝  jesus  fucking  christ .  ❞      he  stands  there  in  the  hall ,  amidst  the  piles  of  baubles  and  holly  wreathes ,   and  gussie  cannot  believe  her  rotten  luck .     ❝  of  course  you’re  here  too .  let  me  guess ,  you  signed  up  for  this  shit ,  right ?  ❞

semi - plotted  starer →  @dutycovet​

[wildechaya]

❝  who  the     hell  are  you ?  ❞       her  hand  blindly  feels  up  the  wall  for  the  light  switch ,   and  gussie  squints  as  fluorescence  floods  her  vision .   the  blurry ,  orange  shape --  almost  recognizable --   comes  into  focus ;  streaked  blonde  hair ,  falling  over  the  correctional  center  jumpsuit .    ❝   and  what  the  fuck  are  you  doing  in  my  apartment ?    i  don’t  even  have  anything  worth  stealing .  ❞      something  in  her  sleep  addled  brain  prods  her ,  warns  gussie  that  this  girl  is  familiar  to  her ,   but  she  can’t  place  her .    

plotted  starter  →  @divinebled​​

[wildechaya]

it’s  a  good  day  to  remember  how  protective  gussie is  of  her  sister !

[wildechaya]

ichorvcins‌

“ he seems pretty kinky. i think he would be into that. ” she can’t help it, it’s too easy. it’s so obvious that gussie is trying to hide it, especially from the way she reaches out to kick samantha. the firelight doesn’t quite hide the blush on gussie’s cheeks, and samantha’s just glad she can finally turn the tables on gussie for once, rather than focusing in on her obsession with the beautiful asshole that is niklaus mikaelson. “ besides, i’m obviously not projecting. you just told me that you would hit that. no judgement. elijah may be as much of an asshole as his brother, but he’s pretty hot. ” of course, she prefers the blond curls and the nasty temper, the passion that leaks out of klaus’ every pore. why does she always like the messiest, most complicated boys? elijah is just too put together for samantha’s taste. it doesn’t mean she doesn’t see how attractive he is, just that she’s more interested in making out with his brother ( a fantasy that she’s played on repeat for too long now. )

❝  i  don’t  want  to  think  about  his  kinks !  ❞       her  face  flushes ,   red  and  angry .   there’s  a  hitch  in  her  voice ,  as  it  becomes  sharper --  desperate  to  steer  the  conversation  away  from  herself .  maybe   she  does  think  about  them ,  just  a  bit ,   but  that’s  a  perfectly  harmless  fantasy  and  neither  here  nor  there .   the  days  are  filled  with  hours ,  and  she  can’t  spend  them  all  studying .   so  when  flitwick’s  voice  dulls  and  her  eyes  drift  across  the  room  and  happen  to  catch  on  elijah --   she’s  only  human .    her  brows  knit ,  irritable .      ❝  you’re  twisting  my  words  around .  i  said  i’d  fuck  him  in  a  very  specific  context .   what  was  i  supposed  to  do --  fuck  weasley ?  come  on  !  ❞      gussie  lets  out  a  whine  and  falls  back  against  the  spread  of  pillows .    ❝   can  we  move  on ?    isn’t  it  my  turn ?   ❞

[wildechaya]

infinitescul‌

“ NO ONE MOVE. ” the words whip out as a command, and instantly the entire cafe stills. not a shuffle, nor even a breath can be heard in the silence as silas wipes the coffee out of his eyes and stands. he even lets his abilities wash over her, this child who so thoughtlessly intended to embarrass him. he stands slowly, crossing behind the counter to fetch a towel and wipe the stickiness off his shirt. “ look at what you did, ” he calls to the witch from behind the counter, forcing her to turn and look at him. “ this was a new shirt. who’s going to take responsibility for getting me a new one? ” annoyance drapes over his voice, but with a hint of violence hiding below. this modern world. the sheer impoliteness of it all is staggering. does no one have manners in the twenty first century? “ speak, ” he tosses the command in her direction as he pats the coffee out of his hair.

it’s  a  dream --   no ,   a  hallucination !   her  mind  frantically  grasps  at  explanations ,   even  as  her  eyes ,  blow  wide ,  take  in  this  diorama --  a  room  of  mannequins ,   alive  and  lifeless ,   waiting  for  a  command .   children  of  clay  waiting  to  be  molded .   it’s  not  some  fucking  flash  mob ,  either  --  that  might  have  been  her  hope ,  some  planned  scenario ,  executed  for  her  personal  inconvenience ,   but  her  legs  are  still  bound  to  the  spot ;  seemingly  bound  by  his  word  alone .   all  the  more  frightening  is  a  spark  in  her  veins ,  something  that  responds  to  his  force .   something  alive  and  buried  deep  inside ,   working  its  way  to  the  surface .   something  that  even  her  hot  fear  can’t  keep  down .   his  words  barely  register  until  he  gives  her  leave  to  speak  and  she  finds  her  tongue  unfrozen .    ❝   how  did  you  do  that ?   ❞

[gay-irl]

[roryrps]

[wildechaya]

infinitescul‌

“ you’re missing the point, ”  the immortal reminds her, stepping just that little bit closer. close enough that it’s easy for him to take her chin in his hand, to turn her head just that right way that puts him in control. she would do well to remember that he is over two thousand years old. though he’s enjoying seeing her struggle to pick up the reigns of the city with only nathaniel’s wolves at her command, he has larger concerns. namely: HIMSELF. “ i hate surprises. ” for a moment, silas finds himself wondering if he should kiss her. or pull out her heart and feed it to his own troops. either would be an interesting experience. still, that’s not why he’s here. not tonight, anyways. still holding her chin in a firm hand, he steps even closer, meeting her eyes. thoughts and images flash before his eyes in a blur. her city is not up to snuff. not yet. she’s vulnerable. good. it’s best to keep it that way. it’s when she gets strong that she will be a worry. “ nothing is bigger than me, ” he tells her, a smile dripping ego and malice appearing on his face. “ tell your wolves they’ll need to tighten up security if they want to keep me out again. ” her chin is released, a step back taken. he’s got what he needs for now: he knows who she is, what she’s like, and the state of her city. now to move the next pieces into place.

and  if  he  lays  his  hands  on  you ,   cut  them  off .           gussie  can’t  remember  where  she  read  that --       the  torah ?  an  inspirational  poster ?   it  sure  as  shit  ties  in  with  the  story  of  judith .  either  way ,   she  fucking  wants  to .   wants  to  make  him  feel  small  and  afraid .  the  bravado --   the  arrogance --  she  can  choke  that  down .  that ,  she’s  used  to .  but  silas  grips  her  chin  as  though  she  were  a  doll ,   and  it  sends  rage  through  her ;   the  entitlement  of  powerful  men  knows  no  bounds !   it  transcends  species  and  time --      a  universal  constant .  almost  reassuring  in  its  familiarity .  she  plasters  an  insincere  smile  on  her  face ,  matches  that  arrogant  gaze .           nothing  is  bigger  than  me !         is  he  serious ?        ❝   yeah . . .    you’re  not  the  first  guy  to  say  that .   ❞      fingers  slide  into  the  worn  denim  pockets  of  her  pants ,  and  gussie  shrugs .  plays  off  the  touch  even  as  her  mind  angrily  replays  it ,  envisions  snapping  his  wrists .  perhaps  she  is  too  easily  riled   ( or  perhaps  silas  is  simply  gifted --  gifted  and  lucky  that  she  cannot  take  out  her  anger  on  him ,  can’t  release  that  white  hot  rage  inside ) .     ❝   but  hey --  i’ll  tell  siri  to  make  a  note  about  security .  ❞

[wildechaya]

infinitescul‌

is she scared of the big bad wolf? she should be.   this time, iris’ fingers plunge deep into the witch’s hair securing a firm hold, and bringing gussie’s lips onto hers. this is no gentle kiss, it’s all teeth and aggression and iris’ athletic frame pressed hard against gussie. there’s no hesitation, not even a beat of time before gussie says she needs help and iris has her mouth secured on the other witch’s. what a scandal ! a gryffindor and a slytherin making out aggressively in broad daylight, in the middle of a corridor, albeit abandoned. yet iris does not court the favor of others, she demands it. love her or be devoured: that is the choice everyone who meets her faces. and gussie is going to get a little bit of both. iris captures the witch’s lower lip between her teeth, grinning wickedly. it’s then that her wand pokes gussie in the ribs. she pulls her head back only a centimeter. “ boom. you’re dead, cohen. ” another kiss, mostly teeth though this one shorter, just for good measure. iris lets out a low, amused laugh. “ nothing like a little bit of both at once, huh? ”

fuck .    not  a  joke ,  then .    gussie  can  taste  blood ,   sour  and  metallic ,  on  her  tongue ,  and  it  sends  her  spiraling .   her  brain  skips  like  a  record ,   leaps  past  the  threat  and  latches  onto  the  feel  of  iris ,  fingers  in  her  hair .    her  own  fingers  stretch  out ,  grip  the  folds  of  iris’  robes ,   and  she  backs  herself  into  the  stone  wall ,   dragging  the  girl  along .  ignores  her  question ,   her  sharp  teasing ,   ignores  the  rough  cut  stone  digging  into  her  back ,  and  seeks  out  that  taste  again .   that  competition  hasn’t  faded ,   simply  switched  directions --     it  stirs  in  her  veins  and  gussie  is  thoroughly  determined  to  prove  that  she  can  give  as  good  as  she  gets ;   iris  doesn’t  scare  her ,   she  infuriates  her ,   and  is  presently  providing  an  excellent  outlet .  her  hand  curls  around  that  emerald  tie ,  tight .

[fysofiablackdelia-blog]

[wildechaya]

infinitescul‌

“ indeed. ”  he agrees with a drawl. one of the many dreadful side effects of love. the loss of control, the wild emotions, skewed perspective. he’s been a victim of this terrible disease but twice, and hopes to never repeat the experience. the soft touch of her skin on his brings him back to the present. he watches as she plays with his cuff links, perhaps the first genuine thing she has done this evening. his opposite hand rests over the top of hers, stilling it. he needs a clear head this evening, and this action is far too distracting. sharp eyes move back up to hers again. this game was entirely her idea, though he has made it his own. he wonders what thoughts are running through her brain at this moment, now that the difficult parts are truly beginning. is she revolted when she touches the monster beside her, or does she simply picture another’s face?

“ i notice everything. ” he reminds her in a low tone, something dark and gravelly, meant for her ears alone. “ as do they. ” the sharks around them. as innocent as many of them seem, everyone has had their hands deep in the gore of the city. especially the mikaelsons. especially her stephen. just the thought of him brings happy thoughts of revenge. elijah hopes he is here, to seethe at the sight of his former love on the arm of his most dangerous enemy. elijah leans closer, his lips almost against her ear. ( let them stare. it only adds to the picture they are successfully building. ) “ be smart, augusta. watch them all. they will congratulate you and smile at you, but they are only looking for the weak points to sink their teeth into. i would not advise you leave my side for the foreseeable future. ” when elijah pulls back, there’s something of a smile hanging on his lips, though just a hint off. a shade too dark. he has never been one for even the appearance of easy domesticity. 

he  does  notice  everything ,   doesn’t  he ?    she  meets  his  gaze  evenly ,   with  a  practiced  steadiness .     he  frightens  her --  he  must  know  it ,   and  augusta  wonders  if  he  revels   in  it .    isn’t  that  what  powerful  men  do  ?   they  instill  fear  and  feast  on  it .  yet ,  for  every  inch  of  fear ,   every  shiver  she  fights  to  suppress ,   her  pride  rebuffs  it  tenfold ,   resentful --   she  lengthens  her  spine ,   draws  out  her  smile ,   brightens  her  eyes --   how  dare  he  intimidate  her .   does  he  still  think  she  cannot  play  this  role ?   that  because  he  frightens  her  she  will  step  down ?   back  out ?    stephen  had  underestimated  her  as  well .   she’s  quite  tired  of  it .

near  her  ear ,  his  voice  is  low --  low  and  rough ,  and  when  he  leans  in  closer  still  she  thinks  for  a  moment  that  he  means  to  kiss  her .   something  nearing  disappointment  flickers  in  her  when  he  draws  back .   that  imitation  of  a  smile ,   his  playacting  at  happiness --  augusta  thinks  he  has  forgotten  that  she  is  an  equal  partner  in  this .   this  scheme  had  been  of  her  devising ;  crafted  in  heartbreak ,   but  it  had  carried  them  this  far .   she  had  carried  them  this  far .     ❝   leave  your  side ?  ❞     she  murmurs ,   lets  the  sound  carry  to  the  neighboring  tables .     a  flash  in  her  warm  eyes ,   a  split  second  of  transparency  for  elijah ,   and  elijah  alone .     i  am  not  so  stupid  as  to  trust  them .   i  am  not  so  stupid  as  to  trust  you ,  either .   her  fingers  curl  over  his ,   and  she  lifts  their  hands .   presses  a  chaste ,  soft  kiss  to  the  back  of  his  hand .       ❝  how  could  i ?  ❞

[wildechaya]

infinitescul‌ / silas

something needs to be done about iris.     she’s a verifiable pig, gobbling up everything she sees just because she wants to. this is why dragons and wolves are not allowed to rule cities on their side of the continent. his adviser, having given his king the update on the witch that iris had most recently eaten, bids him goodnight and swiftly departs. a headache is starting behind the immortal’s eyes and he’s rubbing at them furiously as he enters his rooms. he pauses, eyes not open yet. the soft exhale of air, the curious scent so light a human nose would not catch it. he knows before he lowers his hand who sits in his favorite armchair. a grin splits his face as he lowers his hand from his face. AUGUSTA. “ well, well, to what do i owe this pleasant surprise? ” more importantly, how did she even get in here? his guards may not all be wolves like hers, but they are not incompetent. he’s actually impressed that she managed to get this far, bold enough to get into his personal rooms and not balk at the idea that he was well within his rights, and power, to kill her on the spot.

❝  we  have  a  problem .  ❞            she  shifts  in  the  chair ,   body  relaxing  --  at  least  he  hasn’t  killed  her  yet .  that’s  one  small  win  in  the  wake  of   recurring  loss  and  nights  plagued  with  dreams  of  bloody  rubble .    ❝  i  would  have  sent  a  letter  but . . .  ❞    a  smile  plays  at  the  edge  of  her  lips --    ❝  i  owed  you  a  break - in .  ❞      that ,  and  gussie  couldn’t  be  sure  of  confidentiality  any  other  way .  she  had  promised  nathaniel  to  underestimate  no  one ,   and  that  certainly  included  iris .      ❝  iris  is  out  of  control  .   she’s  on  a  fucking  power  trip ,  and  we  both  know  she’s  not  going  to  stop .  ❞        people  like  her  never  do ;    gussie  is  intimately  familiar  with  tyranny ,  and  its  costs .   at  least  with  a  man  like  silas ,   there  was  a  method --  there  was  reason .  iris  is  chaos ,   pure  and  raw .      ❝  obviously ,   i’m  not  your  biggest  fan --  but  i’m  not  stupid  enough  to  think  i  can  stop  her  on  my  own .  ❞    a  beat .   she  weighs  the  merits  of  speaking  her  mind --  risking  his  temper --   and  finds  herself  speaking   anyway .    ❝  and  i  don’t  think  you  can ,  either --  not  on  your  own .   if  you  could ,  you  would  have  by  now .  ❞ 

[wildechaya]

unsurprisingly ,            infiltrating  silas’  residence  is  no  easy  task .  it  might  have  been  easier ,  had  she  informed  nathaniel  of  her  plan  and  enlisted  his  help --  but  as  it  were ,  he  would  only  have  counseled  against  it .   now ,  alone  and  somewhat  aching ,  she  digs  her  fingers  into  the  cool  stone  windowsill  and  hoists  herself  up .   legs  first ,   gussie  swings  through  the  window ,  landing  on  the  carpet  with  a  faint  thud .   by  her  calculations ,   this  ought  to  have  been  his  personal  rooms --  and  judging  by  the  decor ,  she  had  been  correct .   voices  drift  under  the  crack  between  the  wide  doubledoors  and  she  listens  carefully  for  his  low  tones .  whoever  he’s  speaking  to ,  they  bid  him  a  goodnight  and  turn  about ,  leaving  the  way  they  came .   gussie  sinks  into  the  leather  armchair  directly  beside  the  window ,  crosses  her  legs ,  waits  patiently ,  and  recalls  a  few  brief  prayers  in  case  he  decides  to  kill  her  on  the  spot .

plotted  shenanigans  →  @infinitescul​